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Thread: Out for a stroll

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Default Out for a stroll

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    Thought I would take a break from Seals, so here's a young male Leopard out for a nice stroll, early morning around 7.40am.

    The angle is still a little steep for me, but he kept criss crossing the path and so it was hard to judge at times his movements/position, plus we had another jeep mirroring our tactics in shooting him which was a little annoying. A little battle scarred with recent cuts to the tip of the nose and front paws.

    As I've said before, like Tigers or any big cat, they use these roads as much as we do, it's softer for them and adds to their stealth as the soft sand mutes any sound of movement, ideal for stalking, tyre tracks are inevitable so you live with it, not ideal, but...


    Thanks for either viewing or commenting on the previous image.


    Steve

    Subject: Leopard (Panthera pardus) young male Leopard walking on a sandy road
    Location: SA
    Camera: Canon 1DX
    Lens: 200-400f/4 HH
    Exposure: 1/2000s at f/5.6 ISO2500
    Original format: Portrait, very slight crop from the top
    Processed: LR6 2015 & PS CC2015
    Shot taken: 7.40am

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    Lifetime Member Andre Pretorius's Avatar
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    Hi Steve

    Comp works for me, he is walking into frame.

    Do not mind the road-this is where you captured him. (they love the lower POV, AND the sand is softer on their feet)

    The blood on his front paws, what did he do last night-adds to the intrigue..

    Why 1/2000 @ 5,6- would like more DOF to have at least front paws in..? (see HH, 1/1000 with IS engaged and higher F-stop might have worked?)
    The blood/red on the paws really adds to this image, would have liked them in focus.
    Stunning capture!
    Regards

    Andre.

    www.gappimages.com

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    Nice in coming pose Steve. Agree, we take it as we sight them. So though the tyre tracks aren't ideal, the pose, the colours and the magnificent creature more than make up for it.
    TFS.

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Andre, he's moving so I wanted a sharp image, 1/1000 may not have provided this, plus no IS on as stated before in a previous thread and the reasons why. The head, ears to nose are sharp that's all I needed/wanted as that is the FP for me, especially with the eyes focused, paws/body can fall off for me, it's not key IMHO and would have increased ISO at the SS I required.


    The blood on his front paws, what did he do last night-adds to the intrigue..
    Rachel will correct me, but I think it was from a spar with his father who is also on the same property.

    Cheers

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Thanks Sanjeev

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    A very good evening to you Steve,

    Just read your exif and I am happy with your decisions - I am a great fan of good (as in "enough", if possible "more than enough") shutter speed, wouldn't take chances with a moving "target" and especially the elusive Mr. Leopard:) I have seen a number of images lately that worked out pretty well at low SS, I do not like to take a chance though:)

    A wonderful sighting and I like the POV, the only way to get lower would have been to leave the vehicle - obviously not a good option, LOL. Love the concentration on the subject's face, muzzle slightly open and that tip of a pink tongue protruding ever so slightly...

    We all agree that most felines like to use man-made roads, they are part of their environment and I am so grateful the cheetah and lions use them too. I prefer this to a leopard among tall grasses, I like a clean view of the subject's entire body (and in this case, some lovely rosettes)

    Steve, I obviously like this frame, colours are spot-on and so is sharpness, IQ as expected from the Master:) The only thing that made me stop and think a bit longer was the issue of DOF. I had a similar experience last year at Phinda Game Reserve, cheetah walking down the road towards the open vehicle I was seated on; at first the subject was far away and so I started at F4... then F5... later I increased to 5.6 but then things happened rather fast, vehicle was being moved sideways for a better angle and as soon as it was still I managed a quick look look at the histogram. The cheetah was getting close and I suddenly realised I could no longer use my support because of the way in which the vehicle was positioned, I had to give up the bean bag. I was back focusing for the first time and not quite used to it, also trying to keep things as steady as possible, one hand on the camera and the other supporting the lens. I realised I had to let go of something (or just rest the lens somewhere) to change settings but could not take a chance, afraid I would miss out on things. Looking at my images I later felt more DOF was needed, but given the conditions it was impossible. I am very happy with your image as is, just wondering what made you stop at 5.6, were you aiming for a softer BG or perhaps concerned with the tyre tracks in the FG?
    A little jealous of your "walking leopard" but sincerely happy you had this opportunity during your visit here, I thank you so much for sharing

    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    Steve, this shot is hard to achieve than it looks. The safari vehicle is high and even when you have the whole row and lie flat on your belly, you would still be too high. And then try to take a FF image at low speed when you don't have a good brace, so your choice of SS gave you what you wanted. More DOF wouldn't make much different here I think. Loi

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    Hi Steve -- I can very well relate with this shot as coming from India and being the Tiger as our main subject to photograph most of the time we have to encounter such scenarios where tyre tracks and vehicles ( not in this image ) become a part of the image but as sanjeev said the subject is so overwhelming that such things needs to be overlooked . i liked the head on view and colours and details are good as always certainly a lower POV would have taken up this several notches higher but sometimes it is not possible to achieve . TFS !

    From tyre tracks and forest stretches another thing came to mind which i would like to share and not in anyway am trying to divert from this post . A couple of years back , Sanctuary Asia a premiere wildlife and conservation magazine in India held their wildlife photography awards ( they are conducting it for several years ) . Mr.Steve Winter was one of the judges that year . After the winners were declared , one of my friend won a special mention for his image of 2 tigers fighting on the middle of the forest track , but he had a strong feeling that it deserved to be in top 3 so he decided to discuss the same with Mr.Winter as to why it was not considered in the top 3 . And his answer was the tyre tracks and forest track being a man made element robbed the image from being in top 3 other wise it had all the ingredients to become a winner.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    Hi Steve - A very nice image from a great morning spent with this guy. Colors and tones look spot on. He loved the roads for quick movement and I also think there was a bit of a model in him. He seemed to like posing at times . My recollection is that we didn't know what caused the wound on the paw but that it seemed fairly fresh and he spent some time licking it that morning. I do think the image needs the slightest amount of cw rotation.

    TFS,
    Rachel

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hi Gabriela, personally I'm happy with the DoF, but just to expand.

    As stated earlier, he was on the move, albeit at a steady pace and so I wanted a reasonable SS to 'freeze' the frame, plus I was already +0.67 and so that will increase ISO too. Agree on subjects getting closer you do need more DoF, especially with BIF which can be a lot harder. For me I wanted the head only, sharp, nothing else, including any of the surrounding environment. Personally I can't see any advantage in having the legs & feet (paws) pin sharp, that in turn would also highlight even more the tyre tracks too IMHO
    So:
    1Dx 200-400 (360mm) at f/5.6 subject distance 10.5m = DoF Near 10.4m far 10.6m

    1Dx 200-400 (360mm) at f/9 subject distance 10.5m = DoF Near 10.3m far 10.7m

    1Dx 200-400 (360mm) at f/16 subject distance 10.5m = DoF Near 10.1m far 10.9m

    Personally to gain more DoF I would have needed more ISO and so for me, the choice I feel was correct .

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    I do think the image needs the slightest amount of cw rotation.
    Again personal choice I think Rachel and if it did it would be as you say, very slight. If you take a line across the eyes and rotate the image then it's around 3.6 degrees, the leopard then looks to be on a slant and so a more subtle approach, 'visually' would be best.

    Thanks.

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    Lifetime Member Rachel Hollander's Avatar
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    All good Steve. I just think he looks like he is tilted slightly to the left as presented. It may be a function of the shooting angle.

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    Story Sequences Moderator and Wildlife Moderator Gabriela Plesea's Avatar
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    "For me I wanted the head only, sharp, nothing else, including any of the surrounding environment. Personally I can't see any advantage in having the legs & feet (paws) pin sharp, that in turn would also highlight even more the tyre tracks too IMHO"
    This answers my question, Steve...precisely what I thought. You took a wise decision, highlighting those elements that matter most. Thought as much, but wanted to hear it from you
    Thank you for the additional info, much appreciated
    Warmest regards,
    Gabriela Plesea

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve i was thinking a longer time to type what i think about this technically very well shot and processed frame as expected from you .
    I heard you saying one or twice or even more than that " you (me) have better stuff in your arsenal " than this posted image .
    I know it is not that much fair and not a competition between all of us , but i personally think Sanjeev and his Leopard images has set the level to reach or jump over it very high . And i am just also only a person who do not want to compare ..... but i do it .
    And so i think when comparing this frame is not as attractive to me as some of the latest Leopard images posted here .

    I hope you are fine with my honest feelings , just an emotional thing in this case , and this is coming from the tech guy

    Stiil TFS Andreas

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    Wildlife Moderator Steve Kaluski's Avatar
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    Hey Andreas, no problem and yes, I do think Sanjeev has posted some compelling and wonderful images of this species without question which is great to see, but as you say, we aren't posting to compare as the majority of images are standalone and different, wether it's environment, pose, time of day, wide, close-up etc...

    For me its about sharing, exchanges of ideas/thoughts and learning from each other, ultimately gleaning inspiration at times too .

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    BPN Member Andreas Liedmann's Avatar
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    Hi Steve thanks a big bunch for your thoughtful answer regarding my " critique " in which i agree to 100 %
    I am glad you get me right !!!

    Cheers Andreas

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